[casi] Russian Officials’ Quotes – War – Disarmament – Inspections

Russian Official Statements on a Unilateral War on Iraq, Disarmament and
Inspections
* Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov
* Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov
* Russian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Gennady Gatilov
* Russian Parliament
***********************************
Source: Security Council, 4688th meeting, S/PV.4688, provisional verbatim
transcript
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, statement to Security Council meeting
on “Combating Terrorism”, 20 January 2003
[begin] The multidimensional strategy to combat international terrorism,
developed under United Nations auspices and defined in Security Council
resolutions, has already proved its effectiveness. That took place when an
extremely dangerous hotbed of terrorism in Afghanistan was virtually
eliminated through a joint effort. That development should be further
strengthened. A successful outcome will depend largely on preserving the
unity of a broad anti-terrorist coalition, which must continue to be based
on the solid foundation of the Charter of the United Nations and on
international law. We must be careful not to take unilateral steps that
might threaten the unity of the anti-terrorist coalition.
In that context, we favour a political settlement of the situation
concerning Iraq, in strict conformity with relevant Security Council
resolutions, including resolution 1441 (2002), which the Council adopted
unanimously. [end]
[begin] It is also alarming that terrorists are seeking to acquire weapons
of mass destruction. We cannot allow such a catastrophe to take place. The
non-proliferation regimes for such weapons should be further strengthened.
[end]
***********************************
Source: ITAR-TASS News Agency, “There are Still Chances to Settle Iraq
Situation - Igor Ivanov”, 20 January 2003
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, press encounter (UN headquarters), 20
January 2003
[begin] Much important work has been done in the past two months...The tasks
set before the inspectors necessitate the continuation of their
efforts...From our point of view, the political and diplomatic chances to
normalize the situation are far from exhausted. Unanimous approval of
resolution 1441 by the U.N. Security Council has shown that the world
community is aware of the need to settle the Iraq issue by political means.
The inspectors must be given a chance to discharge their mission. [end]
***********************************
Source: Dafna Linzer, “U.S. Poised for Military Action in Iraq, Allies Say
There’s No Justification Now for War, Associated Press, 21 January 2003
Russian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Gennady Gatilov
[begin] The real situation shows that inspections are going on and so the
[1441] resolution is being implemented...There are some problems which are
solvable and yesterday the Iraqis expressed their goodwill for further
cooperation with the inspectors. I think the sense of the council is that
the majority is against military action. [end]
***********************************
Source: Mara D. Bellaby, “Ivanov Reiterates that only U.N. Security Council
Can Authorize Use of Force against Iraq’, Associated Press, 22 January 2003
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov
[begin] A decision to use force is only for the U.N. Security Council to
make. [end]
***********************************
Source: Mara D. Bellaby, “Ivanov Reiterates that only U.N. Security Council
Can Authorize Use of Force against Iraq’, Associated Press, 22 January 2003
[begin] Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, overwhelming
approved a statement calling on the Kremlin to take all possible steps to
prevent unilateral U.S. military action against Iraq. The measure passed
229-1. The Duma said that in spite of Iraq’s “positive cooperation” with the
United Nation’s two-month-old monitoring program, “the United States is not
waiting for the results of the commission’s work or the U.N. Security
Council’s assessment but is leading preparations for a military operation,
the aim of which is an armed invasion of Iraq to change the country’s
leadership by force.”
The lawmakers said Washington appeared ready to pursue “its own geopolitical
aims under the cover of U.N. resolutions.”
Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, overwhelming approved a
statement calling on the Kremlin to take all possible steps to prevent
unilateral U.S. military action against Iraq. The measure passed 229-1. The
Duma said that in spite of Iraq's "positive cooperation" with the United
Nation's two-month-old monitoring program, "the United States is not waiting
for the results of the commission's work or the U.N. Security Council's
assessment but is leading preparations for a military operation, the aim of
which is an armed invasion of Iraq to change the country's leadership by
force."
The lawmakers said Washington appeared ready to pursue “its own geopolitical
aims under the cover of U.N. resolutions.”
Russian officials have long urged Washington to avoid acting alone, saying
it would throw the international anti-terrorist coalition into disarray.
The Duma warned that U.S. action to “change the political regime in one of
the Arab states through direct foreign military interference would set the
most dangerous precedent, which is unacceptable in the 21st century.”
“That step would undoubtedly lead to the breakdown of all systems of
international relations,” the statement said. [end]
***********************************
Source: Deutsche Presse-Agentur, “Kremlin Walks a Tightrope in Iraq Crisis”,
22 January 2003
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov
[begin] We will not support unilateral military action against Iraq. [end]
***********************************
Source: Reuters, “Russia Says No Grounds for Force Against Iraq”, 23 January
2003,
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=2096001
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, press encounter at meeting with
European Union ministers, 23 January 2003
[begin] "Russia believes that there are no grounds at the moment to use
military force against Iraq...There is still political and diplomatic leeway
to resolve the Iraq issue...The efforts of the international community must
be directed now at helping international inspectors perform their
mission...This is the direction we intend to pursue, among others, along
with the European Union. [end]
***********************************
Nathaniel Hurd
Consultant on United Nations Iraq policy
Tel. (Mobile): 917-407-3389
Fax: 718-504-4224
Residential Address:
90 7th Ave.
Apt. #6
Brooklyn, NY 11217
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